Driver alerting device

• US 5,028,920 A
• Filed: 07/16/1990
• Issued: 07/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A.E. Van Wie, A. E. Van Wie M.D., P.C., Anita Beltzer, Arlene Mettenbrink, Bill Werner, Brent Grams, Coates C. Irene, Dale Wieseman, Doug Kucera, Glenn Witzenburg, Gordon Bainbridge, GRR Trust, Howard Ham, James B. Beltzer Revocable Insurance Trust, Janice Ham, Jim Wegner, John Albers, John Donnelly, John G O'Hara, Kelly Donnelly, Larry Svatora, Linda Vlcek, Louis Helgoth, Mary Cannon, M. Joanne Hopkins, Robert H. Lenners, Sheri Chandler, Steve Anderson, Ted Foster, Tim Mortenson, Tom Folmer
• Original Assignee: Bruce E. Schreiner, Jerry Ronk, Land Paving Company, Omni Holding Company, Robert Wichser, Steven F. Sommers
• Inventors: Dombrowski, Anthony E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/552,837
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 340/904, 340/903, 340/901, 340/435, 340/436-438, 367/909, 367/88, 367/91, 180/169
• US Class Current: 340/904
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9317 Driving backwards
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

A driver alerting device includes a transceiver adapted for mounting at the rearward end of a vehicle for directing its wave output rearwardly of the vehicle. Return wave signals for many objects within the transceiver range are picked up and supplied to the transceiver by an antenna. Any resultant doppler shift signal is amplified for driving an audio alarm adapted for placement within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The circuit is adapted for electrical connection to the back-up light circuit of the vehicle for activation only when the vehicle transmission is engaged in reverse gear.

Claims

1. A driver alerting device for a vehicle having a back-up light circuit reverse switch, comprising

a transceiver comprising a micro-wave radar device to detect the presence of a target within the transceiver range, said transceiver range being limited to a span the width of the vehicle and extending a maximum of approximately 20 feet,

means for supporting said transceiver at the rearward end of a vehicle for directing the wave output thereof rearwardly of the vehicle,

means for supplying to said transceiver return wave signals from any target within the transceiver range,

a remote indicator adapted for placement within or adjacent the passenger compartment of a vehicle,

means for electrically connecting said remote indicator to said transceiver for activation of said indicator in response to detection by said transceiver of return wave signals from any target within the transceiver range, and

means for electrically connecting said transceiver to the back-up light circuit reverse switch of a vehicle for activation of said transceiver in response to activation of said back-up light circuit reverse switch of a vehicle, said device being substantially unaffected in operation, by varying weather conditions.

2. The driver alerting device of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying return wave signals to said transceiver comprises a high gain antenna.

3. The driver alerting device of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying return wave signals to said transceiver comprises a low gain antenna.

4. The driver alerting device of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying return wave signals to said transceiver comprises an antenna mounted directly to the transceiver.

5. The driver alerting device of claim 1 wherein said means for electrically connecting said remote indicator to said transceiver includes an intermediate frequency amplifier operatively connected to said transceiver, said amplifier being operative to amplify and shape said return wave signals.

6. The driver alerting device of claim 1 wherein said remote indicator comprises a solid state piezoelectric alarm.

7. In combination, a vehicle having forward and rearward ends, a passenger compartment, and a back-up light circuit reverse switch, a driver alerting device, comprising

a transceiver comprising a micro-wave radar device to detect the presence of a target within the transceiver range, said transceiver range being limited to a span the width of the vehicle and extending a maximum of approximately 20 feet,

means for supporting said transceiver on the rearward end of said vehicle for directing the wave output of the transceiver rearwardly of the vehicle,

antenna means for supplying to the transceiver return wave signals from any target within the transceiver, range,

an indicator,

means for mounting said indicator in the passenger compartment of the vehicle,

means for electrically connecting said indicator to said transceiver for activation of said indicator in response to detection by said transceiver of return wave signals from any target within the transceiver range, said means for electrically connecting said indicator to said transceiver including an intermediate frequency amplifier operative to amplify and shape the output signal of said transceiver, and

means for electrically connecting said transceiver to the back-up light circuit reverse switch of the vehicle for activation of said transceiver in response to activation of said back-up light circuit reverse switch of the vehicle, said device being substantially unaffected, in operation, by varying weather conditions.

8. A driver alerting device for a vehicle having a transmission with a reverse gear, comprising

a transceiver comprising a micro-wave radar device to detect the presence of a target within the transceiver range, said transceiver range being limited to a span the width of a vehicle and extending a maximum of approximately 20 feet,

means for supporting said transceiver at the rearward end of a vehicle for directing the wave output thereof rearwardly of the vehicle,

means for supplying to said transceiver return wave signals from any target within said transceiver range,

a remote indicator adapted for placement within or adjacent the passenger compartment of a vehicle,

means for electrically connecting said remote indicator to said transceiver for activation of said indicator in response to detection by said transceiver of return wave signals from any target within the transceiver range, and

means for activating said transceiver in response to actuation of said transmission to said reverse gear, said device being substantially unaffected, in operation, by varying weather conditions.

9. A rear collision avoidance system operatively connectable to a rear portion of a motor vehicle to detect the presence of objects behind said motor vehicle, said rear collision avoidance system including:

micro-wave antenna means disposable at said vehicle rear portion for radiating micro-wave signals rearward of said vehicle in a wave pattern that spans a rear width of said motor vehicle so as to have a lateral dimension substantially coextensive with said rear portion width of said motor vehicle, and for receiving micro-wave signals reflected from objects which are disposed behind said vehicle within said wave pattern;

micro-wave transceiver circuitry coupled to said antenna, said micro-wave transceiver circuitry having a range, said micro-wave transceiver circuitry including a source of micro-wave signals, said micro-wave transceiver circuitry producing a signal whenever an object disposed within said wave pattern and within said range reflects micro-wave signals toward said antenna, said micro-wave transceiver circuitry including an amplifier to amplify and shape said signal to produce an alert signal; and

an indicator, operatively connected to said micro-wave transceiver circuitry, for alerting an operator of said vehicle to the presence of said object in response to receipt of said alert signal.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said transceiver range extends rearwardly of said vehicle rear portion approximately 6 to 12 feet.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said transceiver range extends rearwardly of said vehicle rear portion up to a maximum of approximately 20 feet.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said amplifier includes an adjustment which adjusts said transceiver range.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said source of micro-wave signals has a power output of about 5 milliwatts.